Hong Kong man and teen sentenced over defacing late Beyond singer Wong Ka-kui’s grave
Hong Kong Free Press
A Hong Kong man and a teenager have been sentenced to a detention centre and a rehabilitation centre, respectively, after they pleaded guilty to vandalising the grave of Beyond’s late singer Wong Ka-kui.
Chief Magistrate Victor So sentenced Yip Tsz-ho, 23, and a 15-year-old student, whose identity was protected because they are a minor, on Tuesday morning, after the pair admitted to criminal damage at Wong’s grave at the Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery in May.
According to local media, the 15-year-old student was said to have thrown Coca-Cola on the tomb, as well as used a hammer to hit Wong’s photo on the grave and bit the flowers around the tomb. Yip, an air-conditioning technician, was said to have filmed the process.
In pleading for a non-custodial sentence, a defence lawyer told the court that the student had suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism and obsessive compulsive disorder. Yip, on the other hand, was said to be easily influenced by others and his three-week detention pending sentence had already been a “painful lesson,” his lawyer said.
In handing down the sentences, So criticised the pair for engaging in insulting and “rather shameful” behaviour in the graveyard, a place where people paid their respects to late loved ones. The student had committed the crime to gain notoriety, while Yip had breached the law while he was on police bail for a separate fraud case.
The chief magistrate cited a report that said the minor was influenced by “bad figures,” and had joined an alliance last year that encouraged disruptive behaviour.
So eventually ordered Yip to be sent to a detention centre, an alternative to imprisonment for male offenders aged between 14 and 24. He is expected to spend three months to a year at the facility, depending on his conduct during detention.
The student was sent to a rehabilitation centre, where they would be detained full time for two to five months. After that, they would be required to reside at a rehabilitation centre for one to four months, during which they would be allowed to go out for approved activities such as studying and working.
Formed in 1983, rock band Beyond swiftly gained popularity in Hong Kong and abroad. The death of the band’s lead singer, Wong, while filming a television show in Japan in 1993 shocked fans around the world. The band disbanded in 2005.
Some of Beyond’s songs like Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies and The Glorious Years became associated with Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, with protesters singing them at demonstrations. Both songs reference freedom in their lyrics.
The videos of the grave being defaced sparked anger and sadness among Beyond’s fans and former members. Fans, including those from mainland China, went to the grave to pay respects to the late artist, local media outlets reported.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.